- Nick Politis and Mark Bouris are alleged to have been involved in an incident
- The alleged incident took place at the Las Vegas Nines tournament
- The pair are accused of having allegedly abused a senior referee
Roosters powerbroker Nick Politis has broken his silence after it was revealed that he and director Mark Bouris were being investigated by the NRL over an incident involving a referee in Las Vegas.
The NRL’s Integrity Unit is looking into an alleged verbal confrontation that took place during a Nines tournament in Las Vegas last week.
The Sydney Morning Herald says that the pair are alleged to have abused a senior referee, Mitch James, 35.
The referee claimed in a statement that he was approached by the Roosters directors following a game between the LA Roosters and Brisbane. He claims that the duo allegedly ‘confronted’ him and criticised the standard of refereeing.
‘Mr Mark Bouris and Mr Nick Politis confronted me.’ he wrote in a complaint.
‘Mr. Bouris stated, “I’ve seen a lot of football and that was a disgrace! You reffed us out of the game”.’
Roosters chief Nick Politis has hit back amid accusations that he and another Sydney powerbroker were alleged to have abused a referee in Las Vegas last week
He, alongwith director Mark Bouris (pictured) are alleged by referee Mitch James at the Las Vegas Nines
Journalist Phil Rothfield is understood to have claimed on Sky Sports Radio that Brisbane had been handed eight penalties, while the Roosters had not been awarded any.
Bouris had subsequently confirmed that an incident had happened after the match but denied that he or Politis had been hostile towards the referee.
He stated that the pair were ‘not in his face’ and had ‘made sure to stay keep their distance’. He added: ‘We were not threatening, and we didn’t abuse him and didn’t swear.’
‘We did go over and I did say that I had seen a lot of football and that refereeing was disgraceful. Nick said something similar. I do not believe I said to him he ‘reffed us out of the game’. Maybe someone else said that.
‘He may have filed a formal complaint against us, but we filed one against him at the tournament because of the poor standard of refereeing.’
Politis has now spoken out on the news that the NRL is investigating the matter.
It is a shame this has been raised after our club went to so much trouble to support the NRL in Las Vegas” Politis told News Corp.
‘We have invested a lot of money ($500,000) in the Los Angeles Roosters and will continue to support Peter V’landys’ mission to get a foothold in America,’ Politis said.
Mitch James (pictured) says he was approached by Politis and Bouris following the pool match between the LA Roosters and Brisbane Veterans
The NRL are understood to be investigating the complaint, with Politis denying that he had acted aggressively towards the referee
‘We stood there for eight hours over two days to support the Roosters at the Nines.
‘When you see poor refereeing – the penalties were 8-nil against us – it’s very hard not to say something.
‘I told the referee that his performance was poor but at no stage did we swear or act aggressively.
‘I trust the NRL will look at all the facts and find that we have no case to answer.
‘I’m extremely disappointed that headlines have been created out of nothing.’
An NRL spokesperson said: ‘The NRL Integrity Unit has been notified of the complaint and is gathering relevant information.’
James, meanwhile, revealed that he was incensed by the alleged abuse that referees endure, prompting his decision to file the complaint.
‘I am a simple bloke from Dapto, but I am not copping that from anyone,’ James said.
‘This is not about me, it’s about what we put up with every single weekend from spectators who don’t like our decisions.
‘I’ve got nothing to gain or lose out of this. What I am saying is, week in and week out, because of the position I am in running the referees for the whole of the Illawarra, I know these incidents are not isolated to Las Vegas.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Sydney Roosters for comment.
